A Defeat for Chávez

The revolution shows signs of age.

Updated Sept. 29, 2010 12:01 a.m. ET

After 12 years of ruling Venezuela virtually unopposed, Hugo Chávez suffered a major election setback on Sunday when opposition candidates won 38% of the seats in national congressional elections. Anti-chavista candidates won 52% of the popular vote, which was especially impressive considering how the rules favored Mr. Chávez's candidates.

The Venezuelan strongman had promised that his candidates would win two-thirds of the unicameral congress, guaranteeing it would continue to be a rubber stamp. The opposition had...